The BBC is being sued by the widow of a member of its symphony orchestra after he died from cancer caused by him playing in an asbestos-riddled corporation studio for decades. Patricia Larkin has launched legal action over the death in April of her husband, Christopher, a horn player, from mesothelioma. He was 73. The case could prompt a flurry of lawsuits from relatives of people who contracted the disease, which is caused by exposure to asbestos, after working at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios in London. Larkin played and rehearsed there throughout his almost 36 years with the orchestra. The BBC has already conceded liability for his death and given documents to Leigh Day, the lawyers representing Patricia Larkin, which show that the studios were riddled with the dust. Leigh Day are also acting for the family of another member of the orchestra, violinist Edwin Dodd, who died aged 89 of mesothelioma in January. “As a consequence of these two people being exposed to asbestos at Maida Vale and who both died from mesothelioma, it is obvious to me it is of great concern that there will be many others,” said Harminder Bains, the solicitor acting for both families. The BBC admitted liability for Larkin’s death on 8 April, the day he died. Bains criticised its refusal to do so earlier, despite it having disclosed a large haul of paperwork that showed it knew from at least 1984 about the asbestos in the studios. “Although the BBC finally admitted liability, it was not until a court case was commenced and an application for disclosure was made. Even then, despite their own documents confirming that asbestos was in the building, the BBC delayed admitting liability for several months,” she said. “It is unconscionable that despite having documents confirming the presence of asbestos in the building, the BBC filed a defence denying that Mr Larkin was exposed to asbestos during the course of his work.” She added: “I have another client who was exposed in the same building and as a consequence worry about the number of BBC employees, musicians and celebrities who may also have been exposed. “These are two identical cases, it just seems unfathomable that there won’t be other employees and celebrities who worked in these studios and who were exposed.” Barney Larkin, one of the horn player’s three children, said he feared fellow members of the orchestra or studio staff such as caterers and cleaners could have breathed in asbestos and developed mesothelioma. “I’m proud that Dad worked for the BBC for so long,” he said. “They gave him a fantastic career. He travelled the world and played some amazing concerts and loved being in the symphony orchestra. But I’m also angry and sad for my family and for Dad that the BBC was negligent … He should have had another 10 years. “As a family we want to know: when did the BBC know about the problem and what did they do about it? Did they let the symphony orchestra keep playing there despite knowing the risks?” Maida Vale is the second BBC building where asbestos has been found. In 2006 the corporation appealed for people who used to work at Television Centre in White City, west London, to come forward because of possible exposure there. Leigh Day’s claim on behalf of Patricia Larkin points out that although some asbestos was removed from the studios during the time her husband played there, “substantial quantities” remained. An inquest into Larkin’s death found he “died from the consequences of exposure to asbestos”, adding: “It is likely that the exposure took place when Mr Larkin worked in a studio where there were ample sources of asbestos in various states of repair between 1979 and December 2015.” An inquest into Dodd’s death found he died “due to mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos when he worked for the BBC from 1966 to 1997”. A BBC spokesperson said: “The health and safety of BBC staff and all that use BBC buildings is a primary concern and the BBC manages asbestos in accordance with all regulations and statutory requirements. “Edwin Dodd and Christopher Larkin were both highly valued and respected members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Our thoughts are with their families at this difficult time. Given that there is an ongoing legal case we do not consider it appropriate to comment further.”